Eric Clapton Cancels Shows Due to Back Injury
Eric Clapton has cancelled two upcoming concerts this week in Austria and Germany, citing back problems.
“The concerts scheduled for Vienna (11 June) and Stuttgart (12 June) have been canceled,” read a statement posted on Clapton’s website this afternoon. “Mr. Clapton has injured his back. All other shows will continue as scheduled. Further news on the rescheduling of these two concerts will be made at a later date.”
A source close to Clapton calls the guitarist’s ailment “a very severe backache” and tells Rolling Stone that Clapton has had physiotherapy in the past to combat the grueling nature of nightly performances, adding that Clapton has not needed to cancel shows for that reason before.
100 Greatest Guitarists: David Fricke’s Picks: Eric Clapton
Later in the day, a follow-up statement on Clapton’s site said he was meeting with doctors.
“He is currently with specialists who will be able to better determine the course of treatment. He was looking forward to these concerts and regrets that he is not to be able to perform for the fans,” it read. “He would like to apologize for any inconveniences these cancellations may cause and would like to thank the fans for their understanding. All tickets can be returned to the Box Offices for refund.”
Clapton’s next show is scheduled for June 14th at the Koenig-Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. He wraps up his trek through Europe on June 19th at the O2 Arena in Prague.